6th October 2022
Establishment of the Integrated Care System (ICS) NI continues to progress. Initial work to develop regulations for Area Integrated Partnership Boards (AIPBs), the local area bodies which underpin the ICS NI, has commenced.
At the time of the closure of the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) members of the NI Assembly’s Health Committee identified a potential loss of local input to the commissioning process, from a legislative perspective, should Local Commissioning Groups (LCGs) be dissolved before the introduction of AIPBs. Subsequently LCGs were retained whilst AIPB regulations are developed and brought to the NI Assembly for approval.
The term of office for members of LCGs pre-closure of the HSC Board was extended for an initial period of 6 months from the date of dissolution of the HSCB (1 April 2022). This period comes to an end on 30 September 2022.
The revised timeline for drafting and progression of the regulations through the Assembly requires a further extension to the continuation of LCGs beyond 30 September 2022. To that end, and as approved by the Minister, a Departmental Direction has been signed and sealed which extends the term of office for current members of LCGs for a period up until 30 September 2023.
Details of the legislation can be accessed at Health and Social Care Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.